Drugs, chase, deputy assault land Moberlyan $100K bond

Wednesday

Nov 27, 2013 at 11:04 AM

Drew Van DykeMMI Editor

A Moberly man who was discovered to have drugs on his person was arrested over the weekend for attempting to allude a sheriff's deputy in his vehicle and then assaulting a pair of law enforcement officials.

Justin E. McSparren, 33, is being charged with class C felony distribution/delivery/manufacturing/or attempt to possess with intent to distribute/deliver/manufacture/produce a controlled substance, class C felony possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana, class D felony resisting arrest/detention/stop by fleeing — creating a substantial risk of serious injury/death to any person, and two class C felony counts of assault/attempted assault on L/E, C/O, E/P, highway worker, utility worker, or P&P, other than with a deadly weapon or dangerous instruments/causing physical injury.

According to Randolph County Sheriff Mark Nichols, the incident started on the outskirts of the Moberly city limits, and then continued into the county.

"A deputy attempted to stop him on a traffic violation, and he attempted to allude the deputy," Nichols said. "A car chase ensued. It actually started on Holman Road, went across 24 on JJ. He tried to cut down by the old FLEXcon building."

Nichols said that McSparren missed the road and almost took out a railroad signal box before he "cut through [a] ditch, headed back eastbound on JJ, and got on 24."

The deputy was able to stop the McSparren vehicle on a county road in the area.

"The deputy was able to take his vehicle and pin his door shut, so he couldn't get out," Nichols said.McSparren exited his vehicle out of the passenger side and a short foot pursuit took place.

"The deputy was...able to catch him," Nichols said. "The suspect swung on the deputy — hit him in the face. They exchanged blows for a little bit. Then, a second officer — an officer from Huntsville — responded. He kicked her. They exchanged some more blows. Finally, they were able to get him under control, and get him handcuffed."

When the officers searched the McSparren vehicle, they located "a very large quanity of marijuana, controlled substances, and paraphernalia."

Nichols said that the Sheriff's Office suspects that the controlled substance is methamphetamine, but said that such could not be confirmed, as the sample "hasn't been sent off to the lab yet."

McSparren, per court records, has served time in state facilities on multiple charges, dating back as 1997, including resisting/interfering with arrest, operating a motor vehicle without a license, tampering, burglary, property damage, possession of a controlled substance, and distribution/delivery/manufacturing/or attempt to possess with intent to distribute/deliver/manufacture/produce a controlled substance.

Bond was set at $100,000, cash only. He is set for a counsel status hearing on Dec. 2.

A woman, Ashley K. Stewart, 33, also of Moberly, was in the car at the same time as McSparren, Nichols said. She is being charged with class B felony distribution/delivery/manufacturing/or attempt to possess with intent to distribute/deliver/manufacture/produce a controlled substance, class C felony possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana, and class D felony tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution.

"I know that they were tossing stuff out [of the vehicle]," Nichols said.

Stewart has also spent time in a state facility for forgery, possession of a controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana, and unlawful use of a weapon.